The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-07

| man IN the draWlnS-rOOm 10 see me.
found there a man of about forty years.
rather under the average height. of
fresh complexion, with red whiskers,
neatly trimmed. and respectfully
dressed. He introduced himself in the
most polite manner; was very sorry to
trouble me; had walked up from Step
ney. about five miles; had left his poor
wife there i'll in bed, and without a crust
of bread for breakfast Their priva-
tions were all the harder to bear from
| their former affiuence He had lived
on his own little estate in the country
in perfect comfort, till he became
security for friend. who proved a
defaulter, and he lost his all He came
to London to find situation. bringing
his wife with him. He could not. as he
had hoped, get into a counting-hOuse.
having no experience of business, and
was at last glad to take place in Clap
ton as a gardener. He had been ac-
cusbOmed to work little in his own
garden, but the continuous labor soon
broke him down. He had just recovered
from an illness in which they had parted
with every thing that could be pawned;
and, having often been cOmforted by
my preaching when he was in Clapton.
he thought of me very strangely that
morning, in fact he could not get the
thought of me out of his mind, and
determined to call upon me and submit
his case to me for advice. He had been
on the way from half-past seven till
eleven, being weak and lame. and was
now in dreadful anxiety about his poor
starving wife. He showed me his last
pawn-ticket: One pair boots, six
shiIlings.'
asked about their friends. He had
been ashamed to let them know of their
destitute condition; but at last, driven
by starvation, he had written his wife's
mother; and here he took out a packet
of letters and selected from it one which
seemed the most recent. The envelope
bore the postmarks all correctly enough.
and the contents fully corroborated his
story. 1t was the reply of his mother
in-law. written to her daughter. his
poor wife. Father was away arranc-
ing for Il farm for dear George, who
was preparing to get married; there
was no money in the house till he re-
turned, which would be in two days;
then a few pounds would be sent to
bring them home, and there they would
remain till some suitable situation could
be got, etc. Now, if he could in any
way borrow few shillings for two
or three days, all would be well, and
he would never forget the kindness;
indeed, he would bring his wife up her.
self, to thank me, when the money
came. That letter with all the post
stamps on it, together with the mans
appearance and manner and tears,
satisfied me. l gave him few shill-
ingS, and have never seen him since.
Six weeks afterwards. | read Il letter in
daily paper, dated Rochester, describ-
ing this same gentleman, and giving
the same story as the means by which
he was going about there, imposing
upon the kind-hearted to whom he
could get access. He is probably still
performing his little comedy, and car
rying off in triumph the donations of
sympathizing listeners.
determined thereafter never to give
until | had made inquiry; but one fellow
proved too clever for me even then. He
came one night about half-past eight
big, brOad-shouldered, rOund-headed,
Notwithstanding man, whose whole
appearance testified against him. He
had just came from the prison at Cos
port, where he had served two years as
Il deserter. When taken. he had been
for some months living in my district,
and working at his old trade rs a brick
layer. The chaplain had shown him
the folly of his wicked life. and advised
him, as he had expressed his determine
ton to turn over new leaf, to seek |
help from the nearest minister He had |
slept in a shed last night, but had that |
day got promise of a job to begin to-
morrow morning at half-past six. But |
every bricklayer must have a trowel, |
line, ETC.; and he had no tools. nor |
money TO get them. If l would lend |
him as much, he would be at my house |
on Saturday at half-past two, us soon
rs he got his pay, and return it. and
hoped To attend my church and 60 on
in the right way rs long as he lived. |
He showed me the ID branded upon his
side; he offered to leave his coat, worth |
three times the money, and took it off |
as he said it. Ireplied that it was quite
unnecessary; had a friend. builder,
who in the circumstances would lend |
him the tools.
But all, that would not do, as no one |
must know his story; men would not
work with him if they did He. had con-
tided in me as minister. knew how |
any one who had been in prison
found it almost impossible to get any
thing to do. This offer had been made
to him, and seemed to open the way to
a new life, if only he could get the loan
of four shillingS or so, till SATURDAY.;
and if not, then God help hint he
did not know what was to become |
of him; but he did trust me
that 1 would keep his secret. Again
he offered me his coat, which was a
good one, so l asked where the articles
could be got. He said. In Holloway
Road now it was past nine o'clock.
said | would 60 with him and see what
could be done; and away we went at
full speed. He entered 4 small marine |